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Native activist ordered to pay $16,584.87 for rail blockade

About a dozen demonstrators with the Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia, Ont. blocked the CN line on their reserve Friday, Dec. 21 to protest the federal government's Bill C-45. (CATHY DOBSON/QMI AGENCY)

Plain, a spokesman for the blockade in southwestern Ontario that began Dec. 21, 2012, was part of the national Idle No More movement. He was declared in contempt of a court order to end the blockade last December because he identified himself at the blockade and was present when the order was read to protesters.

CN sought $50,000. Plain’s lawyer argued for $1,000.

CN indicated in the court report it would apply the money towards its aboriginal scholarship program.

Plain told the court during his contempt hearing that he had proof the CN line runs on First Nations land, as do many city streets and the land in front of Imperial Oil, and as such it all belongs to Aamjiwnaang.

He maintained he didn’t violate the court order because he was on his own land.

A Superior Court judge criticized Sarnia police for not forcing an end to the blockade, but local leaders praised police for maintaining a peaceful presence at the site.

Also this week, a Crown attorney in Napanee, Ont., decided not to bring charges against several First Nations protesters in January’s Idle No More rail blockade at the Tyendinaga reserve near Marysville, Ont., despite the protests of police who carried out the criminal investigation.